Radioimmunoassay of somatostatin and its application in the study of pancreatic somatostatin secretion in vitro.

A sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay for somatostatin is described. With the use of this system, somatostatin release from incubated rat pancreatic islets and perfused rat pancreases has been studied in vitro. Both arginine and glucose, known modulators of insulin and glucagon secretion, were found to stimulate somatostatin release. These results provide additional support for the concept that somatostatin may act as a local regulator of pancreatic A cell function.